The buses are taking too long, your air pods are always dead, the leaves are EXTRA crunchy. It is around this time of year when everything seems like it’s pushing you just about to your breaking point. It’s that time of year when everyone is just about ready to go home sit in their PJS all day and stuff their face at Thanksgiving.
I, personally, was a victim of the mid semester slump this year. With organizations picking up, classes getting harder and harder, and the weather just being so gross, I was greatly affected. I have always been pretty good at school and managing my time but at this point in the year it seems like I’m just existing to take-up space and get things done.
The mid semester slump by my definition is when every. Single. Day. Begins to feel like Monday. When there is a complete lack of motivation and all you want to do is lay in bed and rot. The mid semester slump is also when you find yourself at the Chick-fil-A drive through a little too often than you’d hope. This is a lull in time when you essentially just want to run home so you can be with your family and away from the college town scene.
Mental health is also usually at an all-time low at these points in the semester. Protecting our mental health is so important so we need to be consistently taking care of our minds and bodies, mentally and physically. Sometimes you might just focus on you and do some self-care whether it’s taking a long shower or simply putting your phone on do not disturb for the night.
One thing about the mid semester slump is that it is so normal, and it is okay to admit that you’re struggling because everybody else around you probably are too in one way or another. Just because people may look fine on the outside does not mean that they are not going through a rough patch as well.
My semester slump this year was challenging but here are some ways that helped me get through it a lot easier!
- Turned my phone on DO NOT DISTURB! – If someone really needs you, they will find you, nothing that important will ever happen on your phone. If something major happens someone will find a way to reach you.
- Went on walks/runs – A way for me to personally get out of my head and away from everything is to go on a walk. Whether it be outside or on the treadmill it always gets the job done.
- Treated myself for the small things – Once I would accomplish a small task that was difficult, I would get myself a sweet treat. Sometimes it really is the little things!
- Took it one day at a time – I tend to get overwhelmed when I see things at large so going week by week or even day by day helped to reduce my anxiety.
- GET A DESK CALENDAR – Being organized has been something that has really been helpful throughout my mid semester slump. I got a desk calendar and I see it every morning to remind me what’s on the agenda for that day.
- Sticky notes! – When times would get really trying, I would write encouraging notes and leave them on my mirror so the first thing I would see in the morning was a positive reminder.
- Saw my therapist! – One of the best things for me has truly been protecting my mental health. Seeing my therapist regularly has helped me to learn how to deal with “slumps” and what to do when I’m faced with hard challenges.